Narcolepsy is a
chronic, or long-lasting, sleep disorder with no known cause. It
affects the body's central nervous system, which is made up of nerves that
carry messages from the brain to other parts of the body. When a person
has narcolepsy, messages about when to sleep and when to be awake can get
mixed up. This can cause a person to fall asleep when they do not want to,
and often without any warning like feeling drowsy.

The desire to sleep can be overwhelming and hard to
resist, and can happen to a person several times during the day. Night
sleep may also be poor, broken up by waking up often during the night. If
not controlled with medication, narcolepsy can cause serious problems in a
person's personal, social, and work life. It can also limit a person's
activities, such as driving a car, work, and exercising. Studies indicate
that narcolepsy may run in families.

What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?

While it can happen at any age, symptoms of
narcolepsy most often begin between the ages of 15 and 30. The main
symptoms are
cataplexy and being extremely sleepy during the day, even after a
good night's sleep. There are other symptoms of narcolepsy, listed below,
which may not occur in all people. These symptoms often come and go. But
being very sleepy during the day is a symptom that can be chronic, or long
lasting. Other symptoms include waking up during the night, tossing and
turning in bed, leg jerks, and nightmares.

Cataplexy - sudden loss of muscle
control, ranging from slight weakness (such as limpness at the neck or
knees, sagging facial muscles, or slurred speech) to complete body
collapse. Attacks can be triggered by sudden and strong emotions such as
laughter, anger, or fear. Attacks can last from a few seconds to several
minutes.

Sleep paralysis - not being able to talk
or move when falling asleep or waking up. This is temporary and may last
from a few seconds to several minutes.

Hypnagogic hallucinations - seeing things
that are not there. These images can seem very vivid and dreamlike and
sometimes scary. They happen when a person is dozing or falling asleep.

Automatic behaviour - doing tasks that are
familiar, routine, or boring without knowing that you are doing them. Like
getting to work with no memory of actually driving there.

Should I worry about getting
narcolepsy?

Some 200,000 Americans are thought to have
narcolepsy. It is sometimes mistaken for
depression,
epilepsy, or the side effects of medications. You should be
checked by a sleep medicine specialist for narcolepsy if:

You often feel extremely sleepy during
the day, even after having had a full night's sleep.

You fall asleep when you do not want to,
such as while having dinner, talking, driving, or working.

You collapse suddenly or your neck
muscles feel too weak to hold up your head when you laugh or become angry,
surprised, or shocked.

You are not able to talk or move for a
short period of time when falling asleep or waking up.

How is narcolepsy diagnosed?

After having a complete medical history and physical
exam, a person's doctor may order further tests. It is important to see a
sleep medicine specialist at a sleep center for evaluation, since
narcolepsy can be hard to diagnose and treat effectively. It can be
mistaken for other conditions like depression and epilepsy, or the side
effects of medications.

Two common tests for narcolepsy are:

Polysomnogram - records brain activity
and body movements during night-time sleep, along with nerve and muscle
function. This test is done in an overnight sleep lab.
Multiple Sleep Latency Test - a person is
given a chance to sleep every two hours during the day, when they are
normally awake. This test measures the time it takes to fall asleep and
the time it takes to go into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (dreaming).
How is narcolepsy treated?

There is no cure for narcolepsy. It is a life-long
condition, but there is help for a person with this condition to have a
good and productive life. Symptoms can be controlled with medicine and
lifestyle changes. The extreme daytime sleepiness can be treated with
stimulant drugs (or drugs that
keep you awake) such as modafinil
(Provigil). Caffeine and over-the-counter stimulants do not work to reduce
daytime sleepiness.
Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat cataplexy,
hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.

People with narcolepsy who have other health
conditions, such as
high blood pressure,
diabetes, or heart disease, should talk with their doctor about
other medicines they are taking. Some over-the-counter and prescription
drugs may interact with those drugs taken for narcolepsy.

Changes in lifestyle can help to treat and control
narcolepsy. Taking daytime naps and developing good sleep habits are
important. Taking short naps (10 to 15 minutes) 2 to 3 times a day can
help control extreme daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks. Having good
sleep habits helps a person to get good quality night-time sleep. What
helps is to: not have caffeine or alcohol and not smoke in the late
afternoon or evening; get regular exercise, but don't exercise up to 3
hours before you go to bed; don't use your bed for anything but sleeping;
and get enough sleep (around 8 hours) every night.

If you have narcolepsy, it is important to talk on a
regular basis with your health care provider. This will help you to get
the best treatment possible for your symptoms.

What can I do to cope with narcolepsy?

You can manage your condition so you can enjoy life
the way you want to. Ways to manage narcolepsy include:

Learn as much as you can about narcolepsy
and your symptoms, including knowing what causes you to have cataplexy.
This can help you make changes in your daily routine to better cope with
whatever symptoms you are having and avoid physical injury.

Talk with your health care provider
often. Tell her or him about any changes in your symptoms or what you are
experiencing in daily life. Let her or him know about any side effects you
may be having from medications you are taking for narcolepsy or other
conditions.

Join a
support group
of individuals who are going through the same things you are. You can
learn a lot about how others cope with similar symptoms and get emotional
support.
Build a support system. This can include a support group, as well as your
family, friends, employer, and teachers. Talk with them about your
condition and what they can do to help you manage it. This will help them
to avoid wrong thinking that you may be lazy, hostile, unmotivated, or not
interested. Talk with an employer or teacher about being able to plan naps
during the workday.

Don't forget to schedule regular nap
times during the day, exercise regularly, and make sure you get enough
sleep (around 8 hours) every night.

Talk to a counsellor or mental health
provider who works with people with disabilities. Counselling can help you
to better cope with personal, family, and work-related issues.

Avoid jobs that require driving long
distances or handling hazardous equipment, or that need you to be alert
for long times